The Blacktip gas field is located in the Bonaparte Basin offshore Australia in the Timor Sea on permit WA-279-P. Situated in a water depth of 164 feet (50 meters), the field is wholly owned and operated by ENI.

In 2001, Blacktip was discovered by the Blacktip-1 well, which flowed at a rate of 89 MMcf/d principally from the Permian interval. The Transocean Sedco Forex jackup drilled the discovery well in 164 feet (50 meters) of water. Shortly after the discovery, the field was further explored and deemed commercially viable.

Originally, the project was scheduled to begin field development in 2006, with production commencing in 2007. However, the Blacktip development encountered significant development difficulty and delay. In 2008, ENI began developing the field with hopes to continue to explore the area and drill additional wells to add to the field's production.

Field development for the Blacktip field consists of two production wells tied-back to an unmanned wellhead platform, which is connected to a 67-mile (108-kilometer) pipeline. The pipeline will export the gas to shore to be processed at a plant located 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) onshore. The condensate will be exported by seaborne tankers via a subsea export pipeline approximately 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) in length and sent to Alcan's alumina refinery at Gove in the Northern Territory.

In September 2008, AusGroup Limited received a $30 million labor supply contract for the project. The scope of work included installing a wellhead platform jacket, piles and topsides, which was completed in January 2009.

The Ausclad Group of Companies delivered the field's wellhead platform in April 2009. The project used 3,086 tons (2,800 tonnes) of structural steel in total, including 1,433 tons (1,300 tonnes) on the jacket, 645 tons (585 tonnes) in the topside section, and 882 tons (800 tonnes) for the piles. The company's scope of work involved the fabrication of the jacket, topside, piles and offshore installation manning. AGC also performed the design, fabrication and construction of five storage tanks for the Blacktip onshore gas plant.

Production is expected to commence at the end of 2009 and flow at an initial rate of 22 Bcf/d (650 MMcm/d). The production and export facilities are being designed for a life span of 30 years.

Activities

Clough AMEC Secures Work for Eni's Blacktip

Date: Apr. 2012
Type: Status Update

Clough Limited has received a contract for the provision of maintenance support to the 1.3 Bcm per year onshore gas treatment plant and the offshore unmanned wellhead platform for Eni's Blacktip project. The scope of work involves the provision of trades labor to support routine and campaign maintenance. Supporting services include specialist consultancy services, multidiscipline engineering, procurement, and management of subcontractors and fabrication. The initial contract is for three years with further extension options. Blacktip has been producing since September 2009.

Eni Fires Up Production at Blacktip Offshore Australia

Date: Sep. 2009
Type: Production Start

Eni started production from the Blacktip gas field, located in the southern Bonaparte Gulf, offshore Northern Territory, Australia. The field, which is 100% owned and operated by Eni, will deliver gas to the Northern Territory's Power Water Corporation for a period of 25 years, with supply rising to 18,000 boepd over the life of the contract. Gas production from the Blacktip field is processed through an onshore gas plant near Wadeye.

Wood Group Snags Maintenance Services Contract for Blacktip Project

Date: Jun. 2009
Type: Contract Award

RANms received a three-year maintenance services contract, with two one-year extensions by ENI for the Blacktip project, which includes an unmanned wellhead platform and a single point mooring associated with the Blacktip gas field in the Timor Sea off the coast of Northern Australia. The gas produced from the Blacktip field will be used to generate electricity in Darwin and other Northern Territory locations, through a 25-year gas sale agreement with Power Water Corporation.

AGC delivers rig for Eni Blacktip gas field

Date: Apr. 2009
Type: Development Activity

The Ausclad Group of Companies delivered its biggest rig to date that will extract natural gas from Australia’s Blacktip gas field in the Timor Sea. The project used 2,800 tonnes of structural steel in total, including 1,300 tonnes on the jacket, 585 tonnes in the topside section, 800 tonnes for the piles and 115 tonnes for miscellaneous installation aids. Its scope of work involved fabrication of the jacket, topside, piles and offshore installation manning as well as steel detailing work for the jacket, painting, electrical and instrumentation fit-out and pre-commissioning.

Status History

Blacktip Wellhead Platform

Producing - Sep 14, 2009 to -

Eni started production from the Blacktip gas field, located in the southern Bonaparte Gulf, offshore Northern Territory, Australia.

Under Construction - 2008 to Sep 2009

Blacktip

Producing - Sep 14, 2009 to -

Eni started production from the Blacktip gas field on Sept. 14, 2009.

Under Development - Jun 30, 2006 to Sep 2009

30 June 2006 - Eni started the development of the Blacktip gas field, located in the Timor Sea approximately 110 km off the shore of Northern Australia in the Bonaparte Basin, at a water depth of some 50 meters.

Exploratory Drilling - Nov 2004 to 2006

Discovery (Drilled) - Sep 2001 to Sep 2001

The Blacktip gas field was discovered in September 2001 in permit WA-279-P in water depth of
50 metres.